(The Dodge Viper is going on it's eighth year of production and
unlike many domestic cars, it still isn't discounted at dealerships,
says Bob Hagin. Matt Hagin found one in a local dealer's showroom and
even after nearly a decade, it's roped off with DO NOT TOUCH signs.)

BOB - The Dodge Viper was a real coup for Chrysler in '92. The
company had lost the performance image that it garnered through its
Muscle Cars of the '60s. That type of automotive excess was passe and
virtually impossible by the '90s. The only logical recourse was to build
a sports car in the classic sense - a low-slung two-seater roadster with
an enormous engine and an excess of power.

MATT - Enormous is a good word in this case, Dad. Back then the
Viper was powered by a 400-horse, 8.0-liter, all-aluminum V10 engine
that had no trouble tearing the tread off of its 17-inch rear tires. But
now the ante has been raised. The new Viper GTS coupe we tried at the
media track day puts out 450 ponies and its torque rating is nearing the
500 pound/feet mark. The tires have also grown by an inch and the
updated RT/10 roadster is now more comfortable. It has roll-up windows
and the GTS coupe like the one we tried is now very civilized too. The
transmission is still a six-speed manual, so shiftless drivers will have
to learn how to use a clutch, or buy something more mundane. The
suspension is independent all around and the major pieces are made of
aluminum. The Viper we tried is no lightweight at 3500 pounds, but with
so much power and torque, nobody is complaining.

BOB - The differential carries a clutch-type limited slip unit and
while it doesn't supply the "bite" of a true locker, it's lots more
predictable in such a powerful car. Our Viper GTS stops as good as it
goes, too. The brakes are 13-inch discs all around, but only the fronts
have fixed-calipers and four pistons. The front binders do a majority of
the work at speed anyway, but an anti-lock system would be a handy
option on the Viper. Unfortunately, it's not offered. The steering is of
the rack-and-pinion type, and with a 40-foot turning circle and only 2.5
turns lock-to-lock, power steering is definitely a necessity. But the
whole package works really well and only the rare owner will ever have
the opportunity or the inclination to drive the new Viper GTS to its
full capabilities for extended periods of time. But I'd be willing to
bet that very few Viper buyers will be willing to nurse the car along to
get its EPA-listed highway fuel mileage of 20 MPG at 65 MPH unless
there's a police car in the same vicinity.

MATT - The ride is surprisingly comfortable on the 2000 Viper coupe
and it's relatively quiet at highway speeds and above. This is a real
improvement over its ancestor of eight years ago. The leather-covered
bucket seats hold the driver and passenger firmly in place and it even
has enough luggage space behind the seats for a couple of overnight
bags. And to further confirm the fact that the Viper is a
single-purpose, just-for-fun car, the press kit that came with it notes
that its trailer-towing capacity is zero pounds.

BOB - It has all the usual creature comforts found in conventional
passenger cars, but it can also be had in off-the-showroom-floor amateur
racing trim with the air conditioning and sound systems eliminated and
the suspension stiffened a bit with heavier springs and shocks. The
"kit" also includes a less-restrictive intake air filtering system that
adds another 10 horsepower. The whole package is street-legal, albeit
somewhat less comfortable in everyday driving than the fully-equipped
version, especially during the summer months. The roof of the GTS coupe
has just a hint of a double-bubble over the two seats but the headroom
is limited to the use of a soft cap or maybe a helmet.

MATT - Two-seater sports cars lately have enjoyed a resurgence of
popularity, Dad. Maybe we should get on the bandwagon and add one to the
family fleet.

BOB - I gave up two seaters many years ago when I discovered that it
had become much harder for me to climb out of one than it was to climb
in. Besides, where would I put my tool box?

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